No Consequences for Avoiding Environmental Assessment Law: Supreme Court of Canada Decision on Red Chris Mine in B.C.

WTF?!?! The Toronto Star is reporting this morning that the Supreme Court of Canada has ruled that the Federal Government failed to adequately assess environmental issues with the Red Chris mining project in British Columbia...but that it’s ok for the project to proceed because the complainant in the matter, MiningWatch Canada, has no financial stake in the project.

So...does this mean that it’s ok to circumvent the requirements of the Federal Environmental Assessment Act as long as you’re only going to be called out by a company with a financial interest, and not just because...well, because not only does the law require an assessment, but because it’s the right thing to do?

I realize that this is an early report. I suspect this Decision is going to be another of the many things I’ve been adding to my ever-growing "to read" list. Unless someone here can explain.